Thousands marched against the gov't in Warsaw

Thousands took to the streets in Warsaw on Saturday to participate in a “March of Freedom” organized against the Law and Justice (PiS) government. Local government officials put the number of protesters at around 90,000, while police said the march drew 12,000. In either case, the number is significantly smaller than the 240,000 who took to the streets to protest the government last year. The march was organized by the Civic Platform (PO) grouping, but many other opposition parties took part in the initiative. Leaders of the rally accused the PiS of weakening the independence of Polish institutions, to the point where the country wouldn't be allowed to be a part of the EU or NATO were it not already. “We are for a democratic Poland, for a European Poland, for Poland that is proud, that seeks friends and partners, not enemies in Europe as it is today,” PO leader Grzegorz Schetyna, told protesters. The PiS government has been under fire from the European Union over changes to the constitutional court, which Brussels says could undermine democratic checks and balances. The European Commission is to present its report on the situation in Poland at a meeting on May 16.